[CPEO-MEF] ADIOS, VIEQUES; HELLO, FLORIDA

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

 Posted on Thu, Jan. 16, 2003
 ADIOS, VIEQUES; HELLO, FLORIDA
THE NAVY PULLS OUT FOR GOOD

The Navy's decision to pull out of Vieques after more than a
half-century of using the Puerto Rican island for bombing exercises will
meet a May 2003 deadline set by the Clinton administration and
reinforced by the Bush administration. While the Navy brass once called
Vieques a ''crown jewel'' for practice bombings, it turns out that other
sites -- including in Florida -- will get the job done, after all. This
is a welcome change of attitude.

The pullout was cheered by many Puerto Ricans, especially activists
whose opposition to the bombing maneuvers had escalated in recent years.
Yet not all islanders want to see the Navy leave, for it will mean an
economic loss.

To offset the loss, Vieques residents hope to improve their overall
health and they expect the departure to stimulate economic development.
Some residents believed that the maneuvers caused cancers and other
health problems. Environmental damage from military exercises is
inevitable, though over the years the military has gotten better at
controlling the negative effects.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/editorial/4956512.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~